Thousands to join LA county social workers' strike

LOS ANGELES—A strike by Los Angeles County children's social workers is expanding as thousands more county workers join the picket line.

A spokesman with the Service Employees International Union Local 721 said up to 10,000 Department of Public Social Services workers will join the strike Monday morning.

Some 3,600 Department of Children and Family Services workers began striking Thursday after contract talks broke down over the timing of a pay raise and the number of caseloads the workers must handle.

Union spokesman Ian Thompson said the social service workers provide support for working-class families transitioning from welfare to work.